LAB 3: DEVELOP A SERVLET FOR FORM DATA
RETRIEVAL
THEORY
In Java web development, servlets play a crucial role in handling server-side logic, especially
when dealing with client input from web forms. This lab project focuses on creating a basic
Java servlet that retrieves and displays user-submitted data via an HTML form. Servlets are
Java classes that respond to HTTP requests within a web container like Apache Tomcat. In this
task, a simple HTML form collects a username and password and sends them to the server
using the POST method. The servlet processes the request, extracts the data using the
HttpServletRequest object, and responds with a dynamically generated HTML page
displaying the received input. This foundational exercise demonstrates how Java handles form
submission, request-response cycles, and dynamic content generation in a web application
environment.
OBJECTIVES
Understand the structure and lifecycle of a Java servlet.
Design an HTML form with proper form fields and submission methods.
Learn how to retrieve form data using HttpServletRequest methods.
Use PrintWriter to generate dynamic HTML responses.
Gain experience deploying servlets in a web container (e.g., Apache Tomcat).
Test and validate servlet functionality via a web browser.
ADVANTAGES
Platform Independent:
o Java servlets run on any server supporting the Servlet API.
Efficient Processing:
o Servlets handle multiple requests efficiently with multi-threading.
Dynamic content generation:
o Allows creation of dynamic web pages based on user input.
Integration with Java ecosystem:
o Easily integrates with JDBC, JSP, and other Java technologies.
Better performance over CGI:
o Unlike CGI scripts, servlets are managed as a single process, reducing overhead.
DISADVANTAGES
Manual HTML generation:
o Using PrintWriter for HTML output can become tedious and error-prone
for complex pages.
Steeper learning curve:
o Beginners may find servlet setup and deployment slightly complex.
Limited view logic:
o Servlets are not ideal for UI rendering; JSP or frameworks are better suited.
Verbose Code:
o Basic servlet are applications often require a lot of boilerplate code.
Tight coupling of logic and presentation:
o Mixing business logic with presentation in servlets can lead to poor code
maintainability.
CODE
[Link]
package [Link].lab3;
import [Link];
import [Link];
import [Link];
import [Link];
import [Link];
import [Link];
import [Link];
@WebServlet("/MyServlet")
public class MyServlet extends HttpServlet {
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
protected void doPost(HttpServletRequest request,
HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException,
IOException {
String user = [Link]("username");
String pass = [Link]("password");
[Link]("text/html");
PrintWriter out = [Link]();
[Link]("<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><title>Servlet
Response</title></head><body>");
[Link]("<h1>Data Received Successfully!</h1>");
[Link]("<p>Thank you for submitting your
information.</p>");
[Link]("<hr>");
[Link]("<p><b>Entered Username:</b> " + user +
"</p>");
[Link]("<p><b>Entered Password:</b> " + pass +
"</p>");
[Link]("<br><a href='[Link]'>Go Back to
Form</a>");
[Link]("</body></html>");
// Close the writer
[Link]();
}
}
[Link]
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Login Form</title>
</head>
<body>
<div class="container">
<h2>Lab 3: Form Data Retrieval</h2>
<form action="MyServlet" method="post">
<label for="username">Username:</label><br>
<input type="text" id="username" name="username"
placeholder="Enter your username" required><br><br>
<label for="password">Password:</label><br>
<input type="password" id="password" name="password"
placeholder="Enter your password" required><br><br>
<input type="submit" value="Submit Data">
</form>
</div>
</body>
</html>
OUTPUT
CONCLUSION
This lab exercise provides a practical introduction to Java servlets and their role in web
development. By designing a simple HTML form and processing the submitted data using a
servlet, students gain hands-on experience with handling HTTP POST requests, extracting
parameters, and generating dynamic responses. It reinforces the core concepts of client-server
communication and servlet lifecycle, forming a foundation for more advanced web
applications. Although servlets alone may not be ideal for large-scale UI development,
understanding their mechanics is essential for grasping the broader Java EE ecosystem and for
building scalable, server-side logic in modern web systems.
